'Santi' suffers new injury setback

The Spanish international goalkeeper sustained the injury in the fifteenth minute of the game at the Estadio Mendizorroza after a collision with former Manchester United winger Jordi Cruyff.

Canizares, who was forced out of the World Cup finals with a bizarre injury caused by dropping a bottle of aftershave, has damaged ligaments in his right knee and early reports suggest he will be out for a minimum of four weeks.

The 33-year-old will undergo more extensive tests on Monday, but will definitely miss the forthcoming Champions League match against Arsenal at Highbury.

The knock to Canizares is the latest in a series of injury blows that the Spanish champions have suffered recently, with Kily Gonzales, Pablo Aimar and Rufete also having been forced to the sidelines.

Valencia boss Rafa Benitez couldn't hide his disappointment in the wake of the Canizares setback.

"Bad luck seems to be following us in the form of injuries at the moment.

"However, we have excellent players in the squad at Valencia and now they must show why they are here."